It’s been all change with the leadership of the England team, as Chelsea’s John Terry, who’s private life has been media-fodder for the last week or so, has been stripped of the England captaincy. After a meeting with England boss Fabio Capello, it was announced that the Chelsea defender would no longer have the honour of leading his country. While debate has raged over the domain of private life and its role in football, any indiscretion which may have been acted out by the England captain has apparently cost him his captaincy. This is a bitter blow for John Terry, who is consistently one of the best and most determined of the England players.

Capello stated that his decision was in the best interests of the national side, and with part of the England captaincy involving being a diplomatic role model, Capello has oddly handed it to Rio Ferdinand who is currently serving a match suspension for striking out at another player. With the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the team, it seems a little bit of an odd decision by Capello, as to who to pass on the mantle to. The FA held talks with the England team management staff, and Capello, who only just arrived back in the UK, pretty much made the decision that everyone was expecting him to.

How much all of the scandal surrounding Terry’s alleged misdemeanours will affect his game, and perhaps team unity with club and country remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, is that England will need him at his best during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The lower the profile all of the England players can keep between now and June 11th when then tournament in South Africa starts, the better their chances of lifting the trophy will be.

Known for being a disciplinarian, it looks as if Capello had no other choice in this matter. Whether it was his decision entirely, or whether he had to bow to peer pressure from the public and the FA, we’ll never know. England fans will hope that this doesn’t dampen the form of arguably England’s best defender, and someone who possess all of the right captaincy tools to take his country to a World Cup Final.